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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Israel condemns Zionism comments by Turkey's PM Erdogan | Israel condemns Zionism comments by Turkey's PM Erdogan |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been heavily criticised by the US, Israel and the UN for branding Zionism a "crime against humanity". | Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been heavily criticised by the US, Israel and the UN for branding Zionism a "crime against humanity". |
| He told a UN forum this week: "As with Zionism, anti-Semitism and fascism, it is inevitable that Islamophobia be considered a crime against humanity." | He told a UN forum this week: "As with Zionism, anti-Semitism and fascism, it is inevitable that Islamophobia be considered a crime against humanity." |
| Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu strongly condemned his comments. | Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu strongly condemned his comments. |
| New US Secretary of State John Kerry said in Ankara that Washington found Mr Erdogan's remark "objectionable". | |
| At a news conference in the Turkish capital, Mr Kerry said he had already raised the issue with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and would also discuss it with Mr Erdogan himself. | |
| Mr Kerry is holding talks in Turkey on the escalating crisis in neighbouring Syria. | |
| 'Hurtful' comments | |
| Mr Erdogan made the controversial comments at a meeting of the UN Alliance of Civilisations Forum in Vienna earlier this week. | |
| His words drew a sharp rebuke from Mr Netanyahu's office, which called them "a dark and mendacious statement the likes of which we thought had passed from the world". | His words drew a sharp rebuke from Mr Netanyahu's office, which called them "a dark and mendacious statement the likes of which we thought had passed from the world". |
| Zionism is an ideology or movement that asserts that the Jewish people have a right to a national home or state in what was the Biblical "Land of Israel". | |
| There is no consensus among Zionists where the borders of the state should be. | |
| For Palestinians, the success of Zionism has meant the frustration of their national aspirations and life under occupation. | |
| In the US, National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor said "the characterisation of Zionism as a crime against humanity... is offensive and wrong". | In the US, National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor said "the characterisation of Zionism as a crime against humanity... is offensive and wrong". |
| UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's office said he heard Mr Erdogan's speech through an interpreter, and called it "unfortunate that such hurtful and divisive comments were uttered at a meeting being held under the theme of responsible leadership". | UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's office said he heard Mr Erdogan's speech through an interpreter, and called it "unfortunate that such hurtful and divisive comments were uttered at a meeting being held under the theme of responsible leadership". |
| Relations between Israel and Turkey have deteriorated since May 2010 when nine Turkish activists aboard a flotilla of aid ships trying to break Israel's naval blockade of Gaza were killed in clashes with Israeli troops. | Relations between Israel and Turkey have deteriorated since May 2010 when nine Turkish activists aboard a flotilla of aid ships trying to break Israel's naval blockade of Gaza were killed in clashes with Israeli troops. |